MySQL Administrator

MySQL is a popular relational database management system and it is meant to offer multi-user access to various databases by acting like a server. While experts can typically perform most tasks they need from command-line, a graphical user interface tool is ideal for database newbies – this is where MySQL Administrator comes in handy.

When installing this package, users get several tools: MySQL Administrator, MySQL Migration Toolkit, MySQL Query Browser and MySQL System Tray Monitor. Each of these utilities has their own specific role so it is best to experiment with each of them before relying on them in production environments.

Before being able to access the interface of MySQL Administrator, a database connection needs to be established (the server host, username and password need to be entered). The main window is neatly organized and each function can be accessed from the left panel.

The Server Information section is the place where users can get details about the server status, the MySQL version running on the server, network name and IP, as well as client data like hardware, IP and OS.

It is possible to start and stop the service with the click of a mouse, with the users receiving the warning that all connected users also get disconnected. When it comes to configuring the MySQL service, it is best to allow professionals to change the name and location of the config file (where the startup parameters are stored) or to activate support for BDB.

Provided no changes need to be applied, MySQL Administrator can also be used to get a detailed overview of the current settings, the ones in charge with the reliability and security of the server. Whenever something goes wrong, a notification is triggered and measures can be taken in due time.

MySQL Administrator is a complex GUI tool for optimizing the performance of any SQL server, while also providing the necessary utilities to tweak and speed up its deployment.